Effect of an Encapsulated Blend of Cinnamaldehyde, Carvacrol and Capsicum Oleoresin on Energy Partitioning and Performance of Broilers

Previous studies have demonstrated that a metabolizable energy (ME) value of 50 kcal/kg could be attributed to 100 ppm of an encapsulated blend of cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol and capsicum oleoresin (XT, XTRACT® 6930 – Pancosma). In addition, work with phytonutrients has shown that the improvement in performance is closely associated to changes in intestinal microflora, and improvement in digestion and absorption of nutrients. It has been suggested that dietary net energy for production (NEp) is a more sensitive way to evaluate broiler response to phytonutrients supplementation. However, no data has been published on the effect of supplemental phytonutrients on dietary NEp. The objective of this study was to examine the responses and interrelationships in dietary NEp, resulting from feeding diets supplemented with XT. Bird growth variables and energy metabolism were also determined.

A total of 400 male day-old Ross 308 chicks were used in a floor pen study to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of a mixture of carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and capsaicin (XT, Pancosma S.A.) on dietary apparent metabolizable (AME), dietary net energy for production (NEp), and bird growth performance. Four diets (corn or wheat soybean based and with or without XT in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement) were offered to the birds from 0 to 21 d of age. The diets were formulated to be adequate in protein (215 g/kg diet) but marginal in AME (2890 kcal/kg), and slightly higher in non-starch polysaccharides than recommended in the control diets supplemented with XT (100 g/t). The diets were provided in mash form ad libitum throughout the experiment. The Treatments were allocated in a Randomized Complete Block Design with each Treatment having 10 replicate floor pens with 10 birds per pen. The pens were bedded with used litter.

Feeding wheat-based diets resulted in lower AME (P < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) but higher NEp (P < 0.05). whatever the type of cereal, XT supplementation improved AME, NEp and feed efficiency (P < 0.05). There was no interaction between the cereal source and XT (P > 0.05). This suggests that similar responses may be expected when XT is added to both, corn or wheat-based diets. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between determined dietary energy and bird growth performance. Dietary NEp was more highly correlated with performance criteria than dietary AME.

The XT increased performance, ME and NEp of diets fed to broilers and based on corn or wheat soybean.

Previous studies which have focused on the effect of phytonutrients on AME alone may well have under-estimated the full nutritional value of dietary plant extracts. Dietary NEp seemed to be a more sensitive way to evaluate broiler response to phytonutrients supplementation